A prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Osita Okechukwu, has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and instead embrace the role of a statesman, arguing that his 2023 candidacy undermined Nigeria’s democracy and weakened the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, Okechukwu emphasized that Atiku’s decision to contest the 2023 presidential election despite the PDP’s zoning agreement to rotate the presidency to the South created deep divisions within the party and damaged its unity. He stressed that the fallout from this breach of convention has had lasting consequences, affecting the party’s credibility and its ability to function as a strong opposition force.
Okechukwu, who expressed deep respect for Atiku, noted that the former vice president had previously shown statesmanship by stepping aside in 2014 when the PDP zoned its presidential ticket to the North. He recalled that Atiku had joined the APC at that time, contested the 2015 election, and finished third before returning to the PDP. However, in 2022, during the PDP’s presidential primaries, no southern aspirant participated, a situation Okechukwu directly linked to Atiku’s decision to challenge the zoning arrangement. He argued that this move fractured the party’s internal cohesion and weakened its national appeal.
The APC chieftain further contended that Atiku’s current criticism of President Bola Tinubu over alleged efforts to establish a one-party state overlooks the role the PDP’s own internal decisions played in its current struggles. “He forgot, or maybe deliberately swept under the carpet, that if he had allowed a Southerner to contest against President Tinubu, even if the PDP had lost, the party could have remained strong,” Okechukwu said. He added that the collateral damage from Atiku’s 2022 decision was significant, though difficult to quantify, and that it had even affected Atiku’s own political base.
Okechukwu’s appeal is rooted in a broader concern for Nigeria’s democratic stability. He urged Atiku to prioritize national interest over personal ambition, suggesting that stepping aside in 2027 would allow him to be seen as a unifying figure rather than a source of division. He emphasized that Atiku still has the opportunity to become a true statesman in a country that needs mature leadership to navigate its political challenges. As Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections, Okechukwu’s comments highlight the ongoing tensions within the opposition and the critical role of leadership in shaping the nation’s political future.
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